Analysis: Top 10 Storage Companies in the World

Here data storage is defined as the activity of recording and retrieving computer data using any form of digital devices (based on magnetic, tape, optical, non volatile solid-state – not RAM -, and subsystems) including all associated connectivity, software and services.

For this ranking we used the companies’ financial results for their fiscal year 2010 – not the calendar year – ending in any month of 2010. We got official figures – no estimations – for all of them for storage only. Their annual revenues are all above $2 billion.

     
Top 10: Storage Revenues in $ million

 
(Compilation by StorageNewsletter)
 
* without Tivoli
 
** based the storage and server management segment and without Huawei Symantec

Since the acquisition of Sun by Oracle, this latter didn’t publish separately its storage revenues but they are probably under $2 billion for its fiscal year ending in May 2010.

All Top 10 saw their sales growing significantly (8% and more) in FY 2010 but HDS and Symantec.

For Hitachi, we only ranks here both wholly-owned subsidiaries Hitachi GST and HDS (including storage systems in Japan). But the Japanese group has two other storage activities: wholly-owned subsidiary Hitachi Maxell in storage media and the joint venture Hitachi-LG Data Storage with LG in optical disc drives. Maxell is at around half billion dollar per year and HLDS is the leader in optical disc drives in the world. Globally, storage may represent more than $10 billion for Hitachi.

This ranking is going to change in 2011. WD has a good chance to surpass Seagate for ≠2 position after completing its acquisition of Hitachi GST. Dell, currently ≠ 11  – with $2,192 million in 2010 vs. $2,400 million in 2009 or a decrease of 9% -, could beat Symantec, ≠ 10, after getting the addition of Compellent and EqualLogic.

But for sure, EMC will remain largely the unquestionable leader, and for several years, thanks its numerous –  and coming? – acquisitions.

Historically, here are the winners’ circle
                     since 1991:

 (Source: StorageNewsletter)